‘We are glad he is here’ – Pep Guardiola reacts to Manuel Akanji signing from Borussia Dortmund

Pep Guardiola says City had to enter the transfer market for Manuel Akanji to get through the intensive schedule before the winter World Cup.

Akanji, a 27-year-old Swiss international, joined the Club from Borussia Dortmund on Thursday adding another option at centre-back.

Injuries have been piling at the back for Pep Guardiola since the start of the season, with John Stones missing City’s opening league games against West Ham and Bournemouth.

Aymeric Laporte recently underwent surgery after playing through pain in his knee to help Manchester City retain the league title last season.

The Spain international is not expected to return to action until the end of the month at the very least, as per the latest reports in England.

Stones returned to the lineup for City’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle a few weeks ago but Nathan Ake was hauled off and replaced by Ruben Dias in the first half as the Blues dropped their first point of the season.

With Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake unavailable through injury, Ruben Dias and John Stones were the only senior centre-backs fit to face Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

Speaking in his usual pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Aston Villa, Guardiola outlined his reasons for signing for Akanji.

“We had an incredible four central defenders before Manuel,” he said.

“Aymer [Laporte] has a tough injury and is still a month, month and a half away, and Nathan still has muscular problems. So we could not face this busy schedule with just two central defenders.

“We had a chance to bring someone with one year left on his deal. He is fast, really good in the build-up. We saw this when we faced Dortmund three seasons ago. We are glad he is here.”

City will play 17 matches between now and the middle of November across the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.